Electric traction.



No. $65.05!. Patented Ian. I, I91".

5. a. BENNETL ELEGTBIG TRACTION.

v .(Applicnion filed Oct. 13, 1900.\

(llo Model.) 3 Shouts-Shae! I.

,4 I'IORNEYS //v VENTaR um 3M No. 665,05l. Patented Jan. I, l90l.

- S. G. BENNETT.

ELEOTRIG TRACTION. ('A ucmon filed Oct. 1a 1900.]

(No Model.) 3 Shuts-Shoat 2.

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' ITIZWNEYS No. 665,05l.

Patented Jan. I, l90l. .,S. G. BENNETT. ELECTRIC TRACTION. (Application fil ed me. 13, 1900.1

(No Model.)

3 Shaats-Shaet 3.

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UN TED STATES FATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL GREEN BENNETT, OF wo vERnAMPToN, ENGLAND.

ELECTRIC TRACTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 665,051, dated January 1, '1 901.

Application filed October 13. 1900. Serial No. 33,005. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL GREEN BEN- NETT, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and a resident of Clyde House, Heath Town, Wolverhampton, in the county of Strafford, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Relating to Electric Traction, (for which I have filed an application in Great Britain, No. 5,154, hearing date March 19, 1900,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention consists of improvements relating to electric traction on the conduit system, my object being to provide simple, safe, and reliable means for collecting the current for working the carrnotors from a conductor fixed below the level of the road.

On the accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings, (three in number,) to be hereinafter referred to, Figure l is a sectional side elevation showing a portion of an electric tramcar and the conduit beneath the track along which such car runs, with my means for collecting the current from the conductor disposed below the road-level adjacent to the said conduit. Fig. 2 is a sectional end elevation of the conduit, showing one of my electrio-current-collecting arms. Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the combination of guards with one of my collecting-arm s. Fig; 4 is a side elevation, and Fig. 5 an end elevation, through one of the boxes containing a spring contact-piece. Fig. 6 is a plan of the jaws of the spring contact-pieces, showing the carplow approaching same. Fig. 7 is a sectional plan of the jaws, and Fig. 8 an elevation on the line a; m, Fig. 5, showing the face of one of the-jaws. Figs. 4:, 5, 6, 7, and 8 are drawn to a larger scale than Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

The same reference-letters in the different views indicate the same parts.

The cable or conductor A, suitably insulated, is disposed beneath the level of the carrails B, adjacent to the conduit 0, in any ordinary manner. To such cable or conductor A, I electrically connect, at intervals along the entire track, spring-grip contact-pieces, as D, Fig. 1. One of the said contact-pieces is shown in the larger detail views, Figs. 4:, 5, 6, 7, and 8, Figs. 4 and 5 showing also the containing box or casing. Each grip contact-piece consists of two hinged or pivoted jaws, as d d, the faces of which are pressed together, preferably by means of springs e e. The hinge-pins of the said jaws (1 cl are mounted upon the upper end of a standard F, which is preferably cast in one piece with the box F. The electrical connection of the jaws with the main A is efiected by means of the branch conductor A, which is passed through but insulated from the body of one of the jaws to the contact-piece g, as illustrated at 7 pieces coinciding with the center of the slotand of the conduit. The lower ends of the arms K form the supports from which I suspend the collecting-bar or plow-piece L. The said plow-piece is of such a length and the boxes F are sufficiently near together to insure that the plow-piece shall always be in contactwith one of the spring-jaw collecting or contact pieces D, and thus the car-motors can be put into electrical connection with the main. at any position along the track. The jaws have bell-shaped mouth ends, as illustrated, to promote the smooth and easy entry of the plow as it moves with the car along the track. The faces of the jaws or grippers are pressed into close contact with the plow L during its entire passage through or between them by the action of the hereinbefore-described springs ee. The electriccurrent thus passes from the cable or main A to the springgrip contact-pieces D and from thence to the plow L as it passes through or between them. From the plow L the current is conveyed to the car-motors in any ordinary manner.

To enable the plow L to adapt itself to the curves usually existing on tram routes, I pro-v vide for an adjustment movement both of the plow itself and of the aforesaid arms K, from which the plow depends, preferably in the following manner: The upper end of each arm, as K, is mounted freely upon a pin-support, as M, fixed in a bracket N, the said bracket IOO being itself freely mounted upon a pin 0, fixed to the bogie, as shown, and having a pair of horns or projections, as 'n, which embrace the lower end of a projecting stem, as P, from the car-body. The distance between the pair of projecting stems P is of course uniform, such stems being rigidly fixed to the car-body; but in rounding a curve the distance between the pair of brackets N will vary, and the pinsupports, as O, for such brackets are therefore made of sufficient length to permit of the necessary sliding'movement of the brackets N thereon. In like manner the pin-supports M of the arms K are long enough to permit of the sliding movement of the said arms thereon. The plowL is itself constructed ofspringsteel or of material having sufficient flexibility to permit of the necessary lateral deflection when roundinga curve. I mount a spiral spring, as Q, on each pin M to effect the return of the arms K to their normal position (which is the position indicated in the figures) after the rounding of a curve.

I sometimes employ guard-pieces, as R, upon each bogie in combination with each plow supporting and collecting arm K, as shown at Fig. 3.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In electric traction,tl1e combination with a plow-like current-collecting piece moving with the car, of fixed contact-pieces in electrical connection with the main conductor and having hinged gripping-jaws, substantially as described.

2. In electric traction, the combination consisting of a conduit 0, box F, standard F, jaws cl (1 hinged upon the said standard, and springs e e', the said jaws being in constant electrical connection with the conductingmain A, substantially as described.

3. In electric traction, the combination consisting of a conduit 0, boxes containing contact-pieces D, having hinged gripping-jaws, and a flexible plow L suspended in the said conduit from arms automatically movable on their connections with the car-bogies from which they depend, substantially as described.

4. In electric traction, the combination consisting of a conduit O, boxes containing contact-pieces D having hinged gripping-jaws, flexible plow L, arms K slid-able on pins M, brackets N slidable on pins 0 and having horns embracing the stems P projecting from the car-body, the said pins M having each a spiral spring Q mounted thereon, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL GREEN BENNETT.

Witnesses:

HERBERT BOVVKETT, HARRY DAVIS. 

